Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şölen Kipöz from Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Department of Textile and Fashion Design and İpek Karatop, who graduated this year, won the first place in Turkey in the competition called ‘Design the Cycle’. The duo, who signed an exemplary academic-student work, achieved success with a collection of stylish trousers, skirts, vests, shirts and dress designs prepared for women by recycling idle men's shirts.
In this year's competition, which was organized with the theme of ‘design upcycling’, a jury consisting of academics and professionals from the business world, in partnership with Koç University, Industrial Design Professional Organization, Istanbul and Yeniköy Rotary Club, made the evaluation.
TURNED INTO A READY-TO-WEAR COLLECTION
IUE Graduate Karatop prepared the designs created within the scope of the project named ‘Shirt Cycle’ under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kipöz, who has conducted successful studies in the field of sustainable fashion with numerous international articles and exhibitions, and the editor and author of the books ‘Sustainable Fashion’ and ‘Slowness in Fashion’. The sustainable, mass-producible and circular collection realized in IUE Textile and Fashion Design Studio attracted the attention of the jury. The ‘Shirt Cycle’ project was evaluated as a ‘circular economy’ model in which idle men's shirts, which are considered as industrial and retail waste, are transformed into a ready-to-wear collection that can be mass produced.
ALSO PRESENTED TO INVESTORS
Kipöz and Karatop also took the first step towards realizing the project by presenting their work to serial and angel investors in Istanbul. Kipöz and Karatop received great acclaim in the presentation they made in the final stage of the competition under the coaching of entrepreneur Fuat Sami at the Istanbul Rotary Club organization. The duo will receive their awards at a ceremony to be held in Istanbul in the coming days.
‘CIRCULAR ECONOMY’ EMPHASIS
Giving information about their project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şölen Kipöz said that approximately 400 million men's shirts are produced in Turkey every year, while nearly 8 million shirts lose their value and become idle. Stating that in their study, by using denim pieces and knitted fabrics as well as men's shirts that become waste they have shown that they can be brought into the economy, Kipöz said, “We have to raise awareness at the point of transition to ‘circular economy’ based on sustainability. In our project, we wanted to emphasize the importance of design, interdisciplinary work and cooperation between institutions and initiatives. In this sense, I think we gave the message we wanted. İpek is a very successful student who I believe will go far in the future. She proved this in this project. We made a good start together. We want to continue on our way by further developing our ideas and studies.”
I TRIED TO BE THE BEST
Stating that they are proud and happy to receive the award, İpek Karatop said, “5 projects determined by the selection committee of the competition took place in the final. All teams who developed the projects were interviewed via zoom. We also made a detailed presentation to the jury about our project. In the final stage of the competition, we presented and introduced our projects to very valuable people in angel investor networks. At the end of the challenging process, we received the award. Men's shirts have a very special place in my heart. I earned my first money professionally in a men's shirt factory. It was a special pride for me to receive an award together with my Professor Şölen in the ‘Shirt Cycle’ project, which I created with this value and feeling. I studied in a department that I loved and wanted very much. During the time I studied, I tried to be the best version of myself. In this regard, I would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şölen Kipöz, who never withheld her support from me and always guided me in my studies.”
